Water Pipe

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a water pipe having an elastic body that defines an air passage. The water pipe also includes a stem having a bowl receiving portion. A groove is formed in the bowl receiving portion and an elastic lip formed adjacent to the groove. A flange formed about the upper edge of bowl fits in the groove and the elastic lip holds the flange compressively within the groove. The elastic body and the stem are formed of a heat resistant silicone. The bowl may be formed of stainless steel, brass, titanium, glass or ceramic.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part and claims the priority of an application entitled Smoking Pipe filed Oct. 7, 2015, Ser. No. 14/877,138.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to water pipes and more particularly to a water pipe having an elastic body formed of a heat resistant polymer.

Background

Water pipes are well known and have been in use for thousands of years by cultures spanning the globe. Pipes, including water pipes, are well known in the prior art.

According to the prior art, pipes typically include a bowl attached to a stem portion. A bore extends through the stem and connects to the bottom of the bowl. The stem extends from the bowl and a bore extends through the stem. In the case of a water pipe, at some point downstream of combustion, smoke and/or vapor is delivered through an air passage at least a portion of which serves as a reservoir containing a cooling medium typically a liquid such as water. The interior of the bowl forms a combustion chamber into which a combustible or vaporizable material is placed and then heated. Smoke and/or vapor is drawn by the user through the bore, the smoke and/or vapor releasing into the air passage, rising upwardly through the cooling medium and the air passage to be inhaled by the user at a mouthpiece or other accommodation for inhalation.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,872 to Kahler discloses a water pipe having a first tube configured to retain fluid and a second tube, one end of which is inserted into the first tube and the other end extends outwardly from the first tube and is adapted to receive a reversible smoking bowl. The smoking bowl is connected to the second tube and is adapted to retain smoking tobacco. The reversible bowl is provided with two independent smoking compartments of different sizes, both smoking compartments having the same diameter such that they each fit over the open end of the second elongated tube. An orifice, connecting the first and second smoking compartments, is provided to enable the smoke to pass into the second tube, through the fluid, and out through the first tube.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,499 to McFadden discloses a water pipe or bong having a water chamber for cleaning the smoke of ash and for cooling the smoke located above an ash and contaminant trap. Smoke tubes from the trap to the water chamber end at different levels in the water. The bowl is heat insulated by refractory material from the rest of the pipe which is made of Plexiglas.

At its website, Gray Labs describes a glass water pipe that includes a diffuser disc that is located within the reservoir portion of the air passage below the water line. The diffuser has a honeycomb configuration that is designed breakup the flow of air containing smoke and/or vapor as it is diffused into the cooling medium producing smaller air bubbles that are thought to cool more rapidly. See http://www.gray.com/product/44mm-grav-labs-flare-base-water-pipe-with-honey-comb-disc/.

Historically pipes have been fashioned of materials that are rigid by nature. The prior art also includes pipes made of glass, various metals, ceramic materials and stone. All of these pipes have a single common feature, their relative frailty. Pipes including water pipes are known to break when subjected to forces that exceed their mechanical strength characteristics.

Advantage may be found in providing a water pipe that includes parts formed of an elastic material that is readily deformable while having the capability of returning substantially to the pipe's original shape and configuration. Therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a water pipe having a pipe body that includes a water pipe body formed of an elastic material so that it may be folded, bent, crushed and generally deformed while retaining the capability of returning to its original shape configuration.

Advantage may also then be found in providing a water pipe that includes a stem that is readily separable from the body section and a bowl that is readily separable from the stem in order to facilitate cleaning of the water pipe. Therefore another object of the present invention is to provide a water pipe that includes a stem that is readily separable from the body section and a bowl that is readily separable from the stem to facilitate cleaning of the water pipe parts. Advantage may also then be found in providing a water pipe including a body section, a stem and a bowl that are each formed of materials that may be cleaned by immersion in a liquid that acts as a mild solvent or cleaning solution that readily removes built up residue from surfaces of the pipe components. A further object of the present invention then is to provide a water pipe wherein the body section, the stem and the bowl are each formed of a material that may be cleaned by immersion in a liquid that acts as a mild solvent or cleaning solution.

Advantage may also then be found in providing a water pipe including a diffuser ring that is may be inserted or removed from the air passage at a selectable depth to serve either to hold one or more ice cubes at a selected depth within the body section to cool smoke and/or vapor as they pass through the tube. Alternately, the diffuser ring may be submerged within the cooling medium held in the reservoir portion of the air passage to function as a diffuser to make air bubbles smaller as they emerge and rise in the tube through the cooling medium to cool smoke and/or vapor as they pass through the tube. Therefore another object of the present invention is to provide a water pipe that includes a diffuser ring that may be inserted or removed from the air passage by the user, the diffuser ring being capable of being set at a depth that is selectable by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a water pipe that includes a body section defining an air passage a lower portion of which is adaptable to serve as a reservoir for holding a cooling liquid, the body section formed of a highly elastic polymer that is heat resistant and which may be subjected to cleaning with boiling water, detergents, isopropyl alcohol and even mild solvents without degradation of the material. Similarly, the present invention is directed to a water pipe that includes a stem formed of a highly elastic polymer that is heat resistant and which may be subjected to cleaning with boiling water, detergents, isopropyl alcohol and even mild solvents without degradation of the material. In the preferred embodiment, the water pipe also includes a bowl that is readily insertable into or separable from the stem, the bowl formed of a material that is heat and flame resistant and which may be subjected to cleaning with boiling water, detergents, isopropyl alcohol and even mild solvents without degradation of the material.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, silicone is employed to fashion the body and the removable stem of the water pipe, as silicone is a material characterized by suitable levels of thermal stability, elasticity and chemical resistance. Also in the preferred embodiment of the invention, a food grade stainless steel is used to form the bowl of the pipe, as food grade stainless steel is characterized by suitable levels of flame and heat resistance and chemical stability.

The elasticity and resilience of silicone employed in the manufacture of the body and stem distinguishes the water pipe of the present invention over historically used and know water pipes. The water pipe of the present invention is foldable, bendable and generally deformable, so that it can be used safely without fear of breakage or injury. Furthermore, the pipe will easily return to its original shape, absent any appreciable wear or fatigue to the material, thereby enabling the water pipe to be stored in a smaller space than required by water pipes formed from rigid materials. An added advantage of the choice of silicone as a forming material permits the mouthpiece of the tubular body to be formed as a “comfort” mouthpiece which is shaped and, due to the pliability of silicone material, conforms to and fits comfortably about a user's mouth when in use.

The bowl may be formed of any refractory material including for example stainless steel, brass, titanium, glass or ceramic and includes a flange around its uppermost edge. The bowl is formed including one or more draft apertures formed in the lower segment of the bowl. The flange of the bowl is configured to fit snugly within a groove formed near the uppermost edge in the stem of the water pipe. An elastic lip is formed just above a groove near the uppermost edge in the bowl receiving portion of the pipe body. To insert the bowl, the uppermost edge of the bowl receiving portion is stretched about the flange of the bowl. The bowl is inserted into the bowl receiving portion of the stem until the flange seats within a groove. The bead closes snugly against the flange of the bowl forming an airtight seal between the pipe body and the bowl.

Inasmuch as the water pipe of the present invention includes a removable bowl and a pipe body each formed of a material that is resistant to boiling water, detergents, isopropyl alcohol and even mild solvents without degradation of the material, the water pipe may be readily cleaned when required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a representative exploded first side view of a water pipe according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a representative cutaway first side view of a water pipe according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a representative top view of a diffuser ring for a water pipe according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a representative detail cutaway side view of a bowl and stem of a water pipe according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a representative detail cutaway side view of a stem shown inserted into the pipe body of a water pipe according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a representative detail cutaway side view of a stem shown inserted into the pipe body of a water pipe according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of water pipe 10 according to the present invention. FIGS. 1 and 2 show water pipe 10 including tubular pipe body 11 supported by base 12. FIG. 2 shows pipe body 11 defining in part air passage 17. A lower portion of air passage 17 is configured to serve as a reservoir and is shown containing a cooling fluid, in this case water W. In the preferred embodiment, pipe body 11, including base 12 and stem receiving portion 15, is molded as a singular piece of silicone. Pipe body 11 is formed having comfort mouthpiece 14 which due to the pliable nature of silicone fits comfortably about a user's mouth when in use. Airflow regulation aperture 19 is formed through sidewall 31 of pipe body 11 and which may be employed to regulate airflow through pipe body 11 by selectively covering or uncovering airflow regulation aperture 19. Bowl 35 is cold formed of a food grade stainless steel and includes a plurality of airflow apertures 40.

Stem 25 is shown including trunk portion 26 in fluid communication with and extending from tapered bowl receiving portion 27. A plurality of air vents 28 are formed about the periphery of trunk portion 26. Referring to FIG. 2, trunk portion 26 is adapted for insertion into stem receiving portion 15 of pipe body 11 to extend into air passage 17. As shown in FIG. 1 stem 25 is separable from stem receiving portion 15 and bowl 35 is separable from stem 25. FIG. 1 also shows water pipe 10 including removable cap 45 configured to fit snugly over upper end 30 of tapered bowl receiving portion 27 so that a charge may be placed in bowl 35 and covered for later use.

In FIG. 1 diffuser ring 20 is shown positioned above an open end of pipe body 11 for insertion into pipe body 11. FIG. 2 shows a pair of diffuser rings 20A and 20B deployed within air passage 17 of pipe body 11. The first, diffuser ring 20A is shown deployed to function as a diffuser and is positioned within ring retention groove 24 formed within the interior of sidewall 31 of pipe body 11. Diffuser ring 20A is positioned beneath an upper surface of water W such that as air bubbles, (not shown), are emitted from the plurality of air vents 28 and lower end aperture 29 of stem 25, the air bubbles pass through the various apertures formed through diffuser ring 20A to refine and decrease the size of the air bubbles. Diffuser ring 20B is positioned above an upper surface of water W and is used in this instance to support one or more pieces of ice C, for cooling air flow as it passes through pipe body 11.

FIG. 3 is a top view of diffuser ring 20 shown including diffuser body 21 having primary diffuser aperture 22 and a plurality of smaller secondary diffuser apertures 23 formed there through diffuser body 21. As shown in FIG. 3, primary diffuser aperture 22 is defined by inner surface 23 that is irregular in its configuration. As with pipe body 11 and stem 25, (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), in the preferred embodiment, diffuser ring 20 is formed of an elastic, heat resistant silicone.

FIG. 4 is a detail cutaway side view showing the cooperative fit between bowl 35 and tapered bowl receiving portion 27 of stem 25. More particularly FIG. 4 shows bowl 35 positioned within interior 31 of bowl receiving portion 27. Bowl 35 is shown including sidewall 36 which defines in part combustion chamber 37. Additionally, FIG. 4 shows bowl 35 including flange 38 formed about a circumference of upper end 39 of bowl 35. Elastic lip 32 is formed proximate to upper end 30 of bowl receiving portion 27 and groove 33 is formed downstream of elastic lip 32 and about an inner circumference of bowl receiving portion 27. To insert bowl 35 into bowl receiving portion 27, elastic lip 32 is rolled back slightly allowing flange 38 of bowl 35 to be inserted and seated within groove 33 formed beneath and proximate to elastic lip 32. Once flange 38 is seated within groove 33, elastic lip 32 is released and returns substantially to its non-deformed configuration. Elastic lip 32 seals against flange 38 forming a secure and substantially airtight interface between bowl 35 and bowl receiving portion 27.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are detail cutaway side views of stem 25 shown inserted into stem receiving portion 15. Stem 25 is defined in part by trunk portion 26 and tapered bowl receiving portion 27. As seen in FIG. 5, trunk portion 26 is shown inserted into stem receiving aperture 16 and stem 25 is pushed firmly into stem receiving aperture 16 until tapered bowl receiving portion 27 is pressed snugly into stem receiving aperture 16. In the preferred embodiment, stem seal 18 is adapted to form a substantially airtight fit between stem 25 and stem receiving portion 15 as it seals against stem seal detent 34.

Alternately stem 25 may be positioned in stem receiving aperture 16 with stem seal band 18 positioned above stem seal detent 34 as shown in FIG. 6 such that stem 25 may be selectively slid into stem receiving aperture 16 such that stem seal band 18 alternately seals against an interior surface of stem receiving aperture 16 forming a substantially airtight fit between stem seal band 18 and the interior surface of stem receiving aperture 16 or stem 25 may be pulled slightly out from stem receiving aperture 16 as shown in FIG. 6 allowing additional airflow A to be drawn through air passage 1, (shown in FIG. 2), to clear air passage 17. In this manner airflow regulation through air passage 17 is also achieved.

The foregoing description of the illustrated embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiment(s) and implementation(s) disclosed. Modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Process steps described might be interchangeable with other steps in order to achieve the same result. At least one preferred embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and a best mode of practical application, thereby to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention and the various modifications that are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather means “one or more.” No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, sixth paragraph unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for . . . ” 

What is claimed is:
 1. A water pipe comprising: an elastic body defining an air passage; a stem comprising a bowl receiving portion formed at an upper end of the stem and a trunk portion in fluid communication with and extending from the bowl receiving portion, the trunk adapted for insertion into the air passage; and a bowl positioned in the bowl receiving portion of the stem, the bowl including one or more airflow apertures.
 2. The water pipe of claim 1 wherein the elastic body further comprises a heat resistant silicone.
 3. The water pipe of claim 1 wherein the stem further comprises an elastic, heat resistant silicone.
 4. The water pipe of claim 1 wherein the bowl further comprises a bowl removably positioned in the bowl receiving portion of the stem, the bowl formed of a material selected from the group of materials including stainless steel, brass, titanium, glass and ceramic.
 5. The water pipe of claim 1 further comprising a diffuser ring removably inserted within the air passage of the pipe body.
 6. The water pipe of claim 1 further comprising a diffuser ring removably inserted within the air passage of the pipe body, the diffuser ring formed of an elastic, heat resistant silicone.
 7. The water pipe of claim 1 further comprising: the bowl removably positioned in the bowl receiving portion of the stem, the bowl including a flange formed about a circumference of an upper edge of the bowl; an elastic lip formed proximate to an upper end of the bowl receiving portion; a groove formed downstream of the elastic lip and about an inner circumference of the bowl receiving portion; and the flange configured to seat within the groove and the elastic lip adapted to hold the flange compressively within the groove.
 8. The water pipe of claim 1 further comprising a means for airflow regulation formed in the elastic body.
 9. The water pipe of claim 10 further comprising a removable cap configured to fit over an upper edge the bowl receiving portion.
 10. A water pipe comprising. an elastic body formed of a heat resistant silicone, the elastic body defining an air passage; a stem comprising an elastic, heat resistant silicone, the stem further comprising a bowl receiving portion formed at an upper end of the stem and a trunk portion that extends from the bowl receiving portion for insertion into the elastic body; and a bowl defining a combustion chamber, the bowl removably positioned within the bowl receiving portion, the bowl including one or more airflow apertures.
 11. The water pipe of claim 10 wherein the stem further comprises an elastic, heat resistant silicone.
 12. The water pipe of claim 10 wherein the bowl further comprises a bowl formed of a material selected from the group of materials including stainless steel, brass, titanium, glass and ceramic.
 13. The water pipe of claim 10 further comprising: the bowl including a flange formed about a circumference of an upper edge of the bowl; an elastic lip formed proximate to an upper end of the bowl receiving portion; a groove formed downstream of the elastic lip and about an inner circumference of the bowl receiving portion; and the flange configured to seat within the groove and the elastic lip adapted to hold the flange compressively within the groove.
 14. The water pipe of claim 10 further comprising a means for airflow regulation formed in the elastic body.
 15. The water pipe of claim 10 further comprising a diffuser ring removably inserted within the air passage of the pipe body
 16. The water pipe of claim 10 further comprising a diffuser ring removably inserted within the air passage of the pipe body, the diffuser ring formed of an elastic, heat resistant silicone.
 17. The water pipe of claim 12 further comprising a removable cap configured to fit over the bowl receiving portion upper edge.
 18. A water pipe comprising. an elastic body defining an air passage, the elastic body formed of a heat resistant silicone; a stem comprising an elastic, heat resistant silicone, the stem further comprising a bowl receiving portion formed at an upper end of the stem and a trunk portion that extends from the bowl receiving portion for insertion into the elastic body, the trunk extending into the air passage, the stem further comprising an elastic lip formed proximate to an upper end of the bowl receiving portion and a groove formed downstream of the elastic lip and about an inner circumference of the bowl receiving portion; a bowl defining a combustion chamber, the bowl including one or more airflow apertures the bowl including a flange formed about a circumference of an upper edge of the bowl, the flange configured to seat within the groove and the elastic lip adapted to hold the flange compressively within the groove; and a diffuser ring removably inserted within the aid passage of the pipe body, the diffuser ring formed of an elastic, heat resistant silicone.
 19. The water pipe of claim 18 further comprising a means for airflow regulation formed in the elastic body.
 20. The water pipe of claim 18 wherein the bowl further comprises a bowl formed of a material selected from the group of materials including stainless steel, brass, titanium, glass and ceramic. 